Effects of Yoga on Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background

Yoga, a holistic mind–body practice used to improve physical function and psychological well-being in chronic inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the effectiveness of yoga in reducing psychological function and inflammation in individuals with RA.

Methods

A thorough literature search was performed in MEDLINE (via PubMed) for studies published between January 1994 and June 2025. Randomized controlled trials (RCT) investigating the impact of yoga on RA were selected. Data extraction was carried out independently by two reviewers. The outcomes evaluated included both subjective and objective indicators of Disease Activity Score (DAS), Health assessment questionnaire (HAQ-DI) and inflammatory markers.

Result

Eight RCT involving 651 participants were eligible for this study. Yoga interventions significantly improved psychological outcomes, with reductions in DAS 28 (SMD = −0.44; 95% CI = [−0.56 to −0.31]; p < 0.0001) compared to the control group. However, no significant changes were found in HAQ-DI (SMD = −0.23; 95% CI = [−0.81 to 0.36]; p = 0.30). Regarding inflammatory biomarkers, yoga significantly reduced serum Interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels (SMD = −0.65; 95% CI = [−1.17 to −0.13]; p = 0.03), while changes in Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-α) were not statistically significant (SMD = −0.71; 95% CI = [−1.74 to 0.33]; p = 0.10).

Conclusion

This meta-analysis indicates that yoga significantly improves mental health by reducing stress, anxiety, depression & lowers inflammation through reduced IL-6 levels. However, its effect on physical health and TNF-α was not consistent, suggesting more research is needed. Further large-scale studies are needed to validate and standardize its use.